Hackney Council's Green Party mayor, Zoe Garbett, is facing criticism after formally notifying the Israeli city of Haifa that the council intends to terminate their nearly 60-year twinning agreement. The controversy stems from the deadline set for Haifa's mayor to respond to the proposed termination, which was initially set for October 7.
Mayor Garbett sent a letter to Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav on Wednesday, stating that the council had agreed in principle to end the twinning arrangement and associated municipal ties. The letter invited Mayor Yahav to share any views by October 7, a date that coincides with the anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel, during which over 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
Critics have labeled the choice of date as "staggering insensitivity," "provocative," and "crass." Lord Pickles, former UK Government Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, called the decision either "provocative or insensitive crassness," adding, "Either way, it is a new low for the Greens." Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, expressed dismay that the date's significance was not recognized, suggesting it revealed "Hackney Greens' attitude towards this issue and their local Jewish community." A spokesperson for the Jewish Leadership Council described the deadline as "crass and shockingly insensitive" and an attempt "to mock and torment Israelis in their grief."
Nivi Feldman, former head of the UK Hostages and Missing Families Forum, called for Mayor Garbett to resign, stating that the council had chosen "division over dialogue" at a time when victims and their families are healing and antisemitism is rising.
In response to the outcry, a Hackney Council spokesperson apologized for the insensitivity of the original deadline, explaining it was an "error." The spokesperson confirmed that the consultation's closing date has since been changed to October 5.
The letter from Mayor Garbett cited the "ongoing humanitarian crisis" and UN Commission of Inquiry Reports concluding Israel has committed genocide as reasons for ending the partnership, stating that maintaining a civic connection with Israel is "at odds with our anti-racist values." She added that the council seeks "active, ethical partnerships that champion peace."
Mayor Garbett has a history of advocating for severed ties with Israel. In October 2025, she seconded a motion to cut all ties with what the motion described as "genocidal Israel," drawing condemnation from Labour councillors. Earlier this year, she faced criticism for objecting to a letter praising police officers who responded to an antisemitic knife attack, questioning their protocols. Labour's policing minister Sarah Jones called her objection "a slap in the face" to the officers involved.
Haifa, located in northern Israel, is recognized for its progressive and diverse nature, often serving as a model of Arab-Jewish coexistence.